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"Since we didn't enter Series 4 (we were going to use the same robot as series 3), we decided it was time for another change. This time we kept most of the chassis (but re-shaped it into a wedge), got rid of the skirt at the rear of the robot, created new electronics, and went from electric-powered weaponry to pneumatic."
— Team Haardvark website[1]

Haardervark was a robot from Team Haardvark which attempted to enter Series 5 and 6 of Robot Wars. The successor to the team's eponymous Series 2-3 machine, it would not appear in either series, with details surrounding its qualification attempts remaining largely unknown.

Design[]

Haardervarkdisc

Haardervark, with disc and flipping attachment

Utilising the same steel and aluminium chassis as Haardvark - including 'crumple zone' characteristics - Haardervark was a tall wedged box-shaped robot with a triangular front profile and a variety of interchangeable weapons. The latter included a electrically-driven circular friction saw of the same type used by House Robot Dead Metal, rotating at 4,000-4,100rpm and mounted on a pneumatic arm. Connected to a 100mm diameter ram, the 1.5m-long arm also doubled as Haardervark's main srimech and could be modified to include an optional flipper attachment. In this form, the 'multi-functional' weapon had a lifting capacity of 207kg - over double the revised limit for heavyweight competitors from this period.[1][2]

Further aiding Haardervark's self-righting capabilities were a pair of 'side rams', presumed to have been separately-actuated. Upgraded hardened steel lifting forks - powered by 40mm diameter rams - were also available as a secondary interchangeable weapon. Due to internal size constraints, the eight-inch forks could not be used alongside the 'multi-functional' arm, requiring the ram for the latter to be removed prior to their fitment.[1][2]

Other major changes were carried out to the electronics, now switching to PIC microcontrollers and encased within a more secure 'die-cast box'. In case of reliability issues, Haardervark could also be configured to use the existing circuitry made for Haardvark, which was found to still be in working condition. While the 24V wheelchair motors were inherited from Haardvark's Series 3 incarnation, they were adjusted to run at 36V through three 12V 7Ah batteries. The rear skirt previously used by Haardvark was also abandoned. Haardervark's external armour consisted of shock-mounted 5mm polycarbonate, Kevlar plating and a stainless steel front lip. A black and lime green paint scheme was adopted, with artwork similar to that of the Series 3 Haardvark.[1][2]

Qualification[]

Haardervark series 6

Haardervark at the Sixth Wars qualifiers

Haardervark's first known qualification attempt occurred at the 2001 Live Event tour, where it attended the Birmingham leg in its bid to enter Series 5.[1] It took on and lost to Spectre 2 in a qualifier at this event.[3] Photographs published in Robot Wars: The Official Magazine also confirm its attendance at the Series 6 qualifiers, taking place at RAF Newton.[4]

Presently, no further details on Haardervark's qualification attempts or potential opponents are available. Nevertheless, the team's reputation as former heat winners was not enough for it to receive a discretionary place in either series.

Series Record[]

Series Haardervark Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Entered with Haardvark
The Third Wars Entered with Haardvark
The Fourth Wars Did not enter
The Fifth Wars Failed to qualify
The Sixth Wars Failed to qualify
The Seventh Wars Did not enter
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter

Outside Robot Wars[]

Haardervark2002

Haardervark in 2002

Though unsuccessful in its attempts to enter Robot Wars, Haardervark and its team still made public appearances at live events during this period in the Classic Series' run. One documented appearance was as a static display at the Raving Robots event on 13 April 2002, held by the Bass Museum of Brewery, Burton upon Trent.[5]

Trivia[]

  • Team captain Owen Barwick was unable to attend the Series 5 qualifiers, because he was working in China at the time.[6]
  • A photo of Haardervark taken at a 2002 event features a reference to the robot as Hardvark III, though this was never formally used on the Team Haardvark website.

References[]

External Links[]

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